Federal Way police officer collapses, dies at shooting scene

A Federal Way police officer who was at the perimeter of an officer-involved shooting was found collapsed in his patrol vehicle about 6:45 a.m. Sunday and later pronounced dead, investigators said.

His cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

“Preliminarily observation of the scene shows no sign of foul play,” Department spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said in a statement. “However, a comprehensive investigation is underway pending the outcome of the scheduled autopsy.”

The officer, 34, had spent more than four years with Federal Way, coming to the department after four years with another agency. He had served in the Air National Guard, and is survived by his wife, two children and extended family.

Their third child is due in May.

Officials have not officially released the officer’s name, pending notification of his extended family

About 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Federal Way officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle located in the 33300 Block of 26th Avenue Southwest. The vehicle, backed up against an unoccupied residence was a dark Lincoln SUV with two persons sleeping in the back.

Officers at the scene learned the SUV had been stolen in King County, and as officers approached giving verbal commands, the driver started the engine and started to flee, Schrock said.

As the vehicle left the area, it struck three patrol vehicles and two officers fired at the driver, she said.

“The vehicle was subsequently found nearby,” Schrock said. “The driver was found hiding in a carport area of a residence and was taken into custody without incident by Federal Way police officers.”

The driver, 17, is a felon with an extensive criminal history, according to police. He was hit once in the arm and rushed to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Another person who fled from the stolen SUV was still on the run Sunday afternoon.

The Federal Way officers who fired were not hurt and put on paid administrative leave – a standard practice after an officer-involved shooting.

One of the officers was hired by Federal Way in 1999 and has more than 12 years of law enforcement experience. The second officer was hired in 2007 and served for seven years with the U.S. Army.

Federal Way police requested that Renton officers conduct the officer-involved shooting investigation, which is typical for King County agencies.